Budget reaffirms Modi's commitment to MSP, Mandi system: Chugh

Chandigarh: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh has hailed the 2021-22 budget as a big step towards reassuring farmers that the Modi government would continue to give top priority to farmers' welfare.

Chugh said a remarkable increase in the disbursement of procurement money to farmers for wheat and paddy crops testified to the fact that the Centre would continue to strengthen the MSP system.

Chugh said since 2013-14 when the Modi government took over the amount paid to wheat farmers has gone up by more than 121% while the amount disbursed to rice farmers has gone up by massive 170.23% during this time.  Chugh said that wheat farmers were paid Rs 33,874 crore in 2013-14 as compared to Rs 75,050 crore in 2020-21 whereas  money disbursed to rice farmer has been estimated to be Rs 1,72,752 crore in the ongoing procurement season 2020-21 as against Rs 63,928 crore in 2013-14.

Chugh said the MSP  disbursement to pulses farmers and cotton farmers have also gone up substantially with money paid to pulses farmers is more than 40 times to Rs 10,532 crore in 2020-21 from Rs 236 crores in 2013-14.

Much against the fear of the protesting farmers the budget has proved that the Government would not only continue the MSP system but would strengthen it as well.

Chugh said the budget had also reiterated the Government's  commitment to develop APMCs as , the government has announced to allow utilisation of Rs one lakh crore infrastructure fund for the infrastructure development of state-controlled mandis. This should allay fears of protesting farmers that centre is planning to destroy mandi system through new farm laws

In view of announcements made in the budget for farmers' welfare Chugh appealed to the protesting farmers to withdraw their agitation as their fears about the MSP and the mandi system have been completely and satisfactorily addressed.